Public Opinion Doesn't Change Church Teaching

Response to a new story out of the Vatican has many in the media making it sound as if the Catholic Church has issued a poll to Catholics worldwide to consult on Church teaching.

At a press conference Nov. 5, the Vatican released the official preparatory document for the 2014 Synod of Bishops on the Family, providing an overview of topics to be discussed in the meeting. Included in the document is a series of questions, which are to be distributed to Bishop’s conferences around the world.

News outlets around the world picked up on the story with headlines such as “Vatican polls Catholics on gay marriage, contraception, divorce ahead of major meeting” from the Associated Press.

According to Catholic author and media expert, Teresa Tomeo, the reality is that the questionnaire is meant to help solidify church teaching, not change it.

"The Church is doing just the opposite of what some media outlets are claiming; this is reaffirmation of teaching, not a change in teachings.” Tomeo said, adding “All it takes is a closer look at the actual statement and questionnaire released through the Vatican press office.”

With regard to the questionnaire portion, the document states: “The following series of questions allows the particular Churches to participate actively in the preparation of the Extraordinary Synod, whose purpose is to proclaim the Gospel in the context of the pastoral challenges facing the family today.”

As Tomeo puts it, “While the Church wants to learn more about the challenges of contemporary family life, She can't change unchangeable teaching. And in fact wants to continually show how God's plan for the family is the best plan."

Tomeo addresses the teaching authority of the Church in her new book, God’s Bucket List (Image, Nov. 5, 2013), “The teachings of Scripture and the Church don’t depend on us,” writes Tomeo. “They aren’t true because we believe them. People of faith believe and practice theses teachings because they are true.”

In God’s Bucket List, Tomeo also addresses the issue of free will, saying “God does give us free will, but He also gives us plenty of evidence that His way is the high way – or the highest way – if only we would start paying attention.” She goes on to say that the teachings of the Catholic Church are “not backward or oppressive but instead give us the best chance for real freedom and happiness.”